Five-star Linley gives Surrey the edge

Tim Linley took 5-62 to help give relegation-threatened Surrey a first-innings lead of 42 over third-placed Nottinghamshire on day two of the LV= County Championship Division One clash at the Kia Oval.

But for Chris Read’s unbeaten 85 Nottinghamshire, who could muster only 227 in reply to 269, would be out of contention.

Read - who batted for four hours, faced 186 balls and hit a six and eight fours - found a lone ally in 19-year-old Sam Wood as the trio of Linley, Murali Kartik and Stuart Meaker shared the spoils.

Meaker did the early damage, accounting for Riki Wessels with an inswinging delivery before picking up his 50th first-class wicket of the season when Adam Voges was relieved of his off stump.

A stunning catch at second slip by Jason Roy removed Alex Hales off Linley, though not before James Taylor had glanced and cover-driven fours off Meaker.

Surrey turned to Kartik as early as the 12th over and Steven Mullaney promptly despatched the 35-year-old slow left-armer through the off side.

Tim Linley's five wickets earned Surrey a first-innings lead of 42 over Notts after his batting had helped take a second bonus point

However, on the stroke of lunch, the visitors lost a fourth wicket when Linley nipped one back in to Taylor to make it 56 for four.

With Mullaney playing down the wrong line to Kartik to go lbw shortly after the break, Notts were indebted to Read and Wood’s 92-run alliance in 30 overs.

Wood, whose 104 against West Indies was one of the few highlights of England Under-19s’ disappointing World Cup campaign, went to tea on the back of a superb off-driven four off Meaker.

Wood made 45 before guiding Kartik into the hands of Rory Burns at forward short-leg. Ten balls later, Graeme White was bowled by Linley off an inside edge.

Read moved to a 143-ball half-century with his fifth four, which disappeared through extra-cover, but wickets continued to fall at the other end.

Ben Phillips, attempting to pull Kartik, was bowled and Luke Fletcher was trapped leg before by Linley, who ended the innings by having Harry Gurney lbw playing across the line.

Read had, however, collect three boundaries in the space of three deliveries, including a straight six, in what proved to be the final over of the day.

This morning Surrey’s last-wicket pair secured a second and much-needed batting point for the hosts, who sit immediately above the drop zone.

Linley pulled Fletcher’s third ball through square-leg and, two overs later, Meaker took Surrey past the 250-mark with a thick edge for four.

Gurney completed figures of 4-47 when Linley was rapped on the shin by a shooting delivery.